Candidate Answers to JOLDC: Mark Murphy for Staten Island Borough President
Candidate Name: Mark Murphy
Office Seeking Election for: Staten Island Borough President
Explain, based on life experiences and accomplishments, why you believe you are best qualified to represent your district
I am a fourth-generation Staten Islander, and I am a small business owner right here on Staten Island. I know what Staten Island is, and I know what Staten Island can be. I’m sick and tired of the headlines calling us The Forgotten Borough. For 32 years we’ve had the same type of leadership, and our borough deserves better than that. Enough is enough. It’s time for Staten Island to get its fair share from the city, for public safety, healthcare, and infrastructure. We cannot allow the city to punish Staten Island any longer. We need a person in Borough Hall with the track record to put Staten Island first, and that person is me. In 2012 I was the only one who stood up for Staten Islanders against Michael Grimm, the biggest bully in Staten Island history, because we deserved better.
Please identify any openly LGBTQ candidate for public office you have previously or presently endorsed?
Matt Titone
If applicable, what legislation directly affecting the LGBTQ community have you introduced or co-sponsored? (indicate accordingly)
N/A
What LGBTQ organizations have you been involved with, either on a volunteer basis or professionally?
I have not.
Do you consider yourself a member of the LGBTQ community?
I am not but I am a proud ally.
Have you marched in Pride? Which marches and for approximately how many years?
I have not marched in pride, myself, but I was extremely proud to stand in solidarity with the LGBTQ community during the recent controversy where I joined numerous Staten Islanders in condemning the exclusion of the LGBTQ community from the annual Staten Island St. Patrick’s Day parade, and I wrote a letter to the editor published in the Staten Island Advance https://www.silive.com/news/2020/03/hate-filled-exclusion-countered-parade-goal-letter-to-the-editor.html
Have you employed openly LGBTQ individuals previously? Do you employ any currently?
In my real estate business, LGBTQ individuals have made up a significant portion of the people I’ve contracted to help in my work. In addition, my campaign currently employs members of the LGBTQ community.
What press conferences, demonstrations, rallies and protests in support of LGBT issues, pro-choice legislation, criminal justice issues and the Resist Trump Movement have you attended?
None.
Have you ever been arrested? If so please explain why and outcome of arrest.
No.
Do you commit to visiting constituents who are incarcerated in state prisons and city jails?
Incarcerated persons deserve the same access to justice and representation as anyone, so I will make a concerted effort to ensure incarcerated persons can access the constituent services provided by the borough president’s office.
Will you affirmatively seek to hire formerly incarcerated individuals?
My office will be committed to hiring a diverse staff from all walks of life.
Describe your legislative and policy vision for combatting systemic racism
Within the purview of the borough president, there are a number of efforts that we can take to combat systemic racism and reform the institutions that perpetuate racism. I think that begins with equity in all services and resources in New York City. That means ensuring equal funding for schools and social services. And in terms of health care accessibility, a number of outcomes of racist systems has resulted in elevated rates of diabetes care on the North Shore. To combat that epidemic, we must not only make diabetes care, like dialysis, more accessible on the North Shore, we also must expand access to fresh food to cut at one the root causes of poor health.
Will you not seek, and refuse, the endorsement of Bill de Blasio?
We will not seek the endorsement of Bill de Blasio.
In view of the fact that Ed Koch has been documented to have caused the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people with AIDS, and was blatantly racist, would you support and sponsor a bill to rename the former Queensboro Bridge?
Yes.
What is your position on removing the Christopher Columbus statue in Columbus Circle and if so, what should replace it?
As I said in my answer above, renaming places and replacing statues is never going to be my priority, especially when legislation that actually impacts peoples’ daily lives is on the docket.
Will you refuse contributions from real estate developers and all law enforcement unions or associations?
I believe New York City has some of the strongest, most strict campaign finance regulations, which, especially with the matching funds program (which I’m participating in), ensure that every day New Yorkers have a magnified influence on our city’s leadership over large, politically connected special interests. A $25 contribution from a working Staten Island family is worth more than twice as much as a $100 check from a special interest group. The question here, and why I don’t commit to shunning support from any particular group, is that I think everyone is entitled for their voice to be heard. Our system enables everyone to participate and when I become Staten Island’s next borough president, I represent all of them. It’s not about locking people out of the political arena, it’s about raising up the voices of people typically left out of the conversation.
Do you support reducing the budget of the NYPD and if so, by how much?
No, however, funds should be reallocated to improving community outreach and training for NYPD officers.
How would you have voted on the FY21 City Budget?
No, I couldn’t have supported it as written.
Are you in favor of removing police from any of the following? a) Schools; b) Mental health response calls; c) Homeless outreach and social services; or d) Traffic enforcement.
No but an additional training should be mandated for the police in all situations that serve vulnerable individuals.
Should the NYPD Vice Squad be eliminated?
No. However we absolutely need to reevaluate this system and the squad’s mission.
Should Dermot Shea be fired immediately?
I think, at this time when both the community and the NYPD seem to be at loggerheads, we need to be willing to come to the table and just as the NYPD has told they public they want to hear their concerns and have expressed regrets about how some historical policing practices had troubling negative impacts on communities, especially communities of color, activists and community members need to accept that invitation to dialogue as sincere. Mutual trust is required and Dermot Shea’s outreach efforts, I believe, represent an opportunity to build an improved relationship between police and the communities they’re sworn to protect.
Should the NYPD Commissioner require confirmation by the City Council?
No.
How would you recommend police officers be penalized for refusing to wear masks in public while on duty, in defiance of city and state rules?
NYPD officers should wear masks, both to keep our neighbors safe, but also to set an example for the community.
What reforms would you make to the Civilian Complaint Review Board? Would you support state legislation to make CCRB disciplinary determinations binding?
New York has, objectively, the single best police force in the world. I support investing in successful community policing so that the emphasis is on building the trust between police and the people they’re sworn to protect.
What is your position on the plan to close Rikers and create four borough-based jails?
I would support a reasonable plan to provide humane environs for inmates. Incarcerated people deserve dignity throughout the judicial process. If a four-borough plan is the best way the city can hold inmates then I would support it.
Will you advocate for the Governor to review sentences of incarcerated individuals over the age 55 who have served in excess of 15 years to determine if they warrant release?
I support, generally, an active parole system that gets more nonviolent offenders who have served significant sentences back into the community to continue serving time and rehabilitating in their communities.
It’s common knowledge that New York City’s 311 system is not adequately responsive to the public’s concerns. How would you alter the 311 system to combat these problems?
Every city service should be subject to biannual service audits, allowing the city to determine exactly how and if city services are helping the people they’re intended to assist. That should apply to every city service.
Do you support decriminalizing sex work? Will you pledge to oppose the Nordic model?
Whether decriminalization is the way to go, nobody should be serving jail terms for sex work. / Yes, I will pledge to oppose the Nordic model.
Do you oppose school screening, which exacerbates segregation? Which screens in your school district(s) will you advocate to abolish?
Every child in this city should have the same opportunity to succeed. I think that starts with standardized test scores, whose role in the admissions process should be minimized in their role in screenings. At the same time, I strongly support giving students universal access to test prep for all major standardized tests, especially the school entrance exams.
Describe what reforms you would make to the control of the NYC public school system.
Whoever is in charge of the school system, I believe Staten Island needs to finally get its share of the pie.
Do you support public funding of abortion?
Yes.
Do you support the creation of safe consumption sites? Would you support the use of NYC DOHMH authority to establish SCSs without NYSDOH authorization?
No.
Do you smoke or otherwise consume weed?
No.
Have you ever supported any of the members of the IDC? If so, who? What did you do to help defeat the IDC in 2018?
No.
What will you do to support nightlife in NYC?
As our city fully reopens, nightlife is going to be an enormous part of the return to normal. I think loosening of restrictions and returning to normal hours of operation for bars (as soon as is safe to do so) will really help nightlife return, as will further grants to help arts venues reopen when it is safe to do so. I also think it needs to be safer to go out, so continuing the popular road closures to cars on some streets could help keep people safer at night.
Do you commit to speak with restaurant and nightlife industry representatives before taking a position on any policies that affect their businesses?
Yes.
Will you work to place restaurant, bar and club owners on community boards? Will you commit to not appointing or reappointing community board members who are hostile to food and beverage estalishments?
Yes, I will commit to place above owners on community boards. / I will not appoint or reappoint community board members that are hostile.
Now that the cabaret law was repealed do you support amending the zoning resolution to allow patrons to dance at more venues and eliminate the restrictions against dancing?
Yes.
Did you oppose the de Blasio/Cuomo proposal (and giveaways) for bringing Amazon’s HQ2 to Long Island City?
N/A
What role do you believe the local member should play in the approval of development proposals before the Council?
Members and borough presidents need to make sure the voice of the people is heard, holding the city to public comment periods and making sure community input plays into any plan. We need to be engaging the community before significant development even begins to ensure that it is what is right for the community.
Do you support legislation to prohibit discrimination against formerly incarcerated people in housing?
Yes.
Do you oppose the removal of the nearly 300 homeless individuals from the Lucerne hotel due to pressure from some local residents?
There is only one real solution for homelessness and poverty, especially in my borough, and that is distributed housing that puts unhoused individuals and families in places with the resources and infrastructure to help them thrive. Creating large concentrations of poverty, especially in places without infrastructure, schools, and services, is a recipe for disaster.
What proposals will you advocate for to protect immigrants and further New York as a Sanctuary City?
I strongly support the policies that allow undocumented people to approach the authorities without fear of being deported in order to report a crime or get help. We must increase funding that helps new immigrants to New York City settle down and live the American Dream.
Do you support a single-payer universal health care system? Please elaborate on what policy and legislative steps the City can take to expand access and affordability.
I believe people should have a choice. Yes, there needs to be more affordable health care for all, but at the same time people should be allowed to maintain the insurance they currently have.
Who did you support for office in the following primaries or special elections: A) Mayor in 2013 B) Public Advocate in 2013 and 2019, C) President in 2016 and 2020 C) Governor and Attorney General in 2018?
A) Bill Thompson B) 2013 James, 2019 Williams C) 2016 Clinton, 2020 Biden D) For Governor: Nixon, AG James
Top 3 issues you aim to address locally and legislatively
Health care access, gun violence, infrastructure
Mayor de Blasio has indicated his intent to call a third Charter Revision Commission, what additional reforms would you support to 1) the budget process, 2) the land use process, and 3) the powers and duties of municipal offices?
We need to have participatory budgeting take place earlier on in the budgetary cycle. As borough president I would hope to involve the city council members and borough presidents at a time when the development of the budget is in its early stages, where input can still be acted on and implemented. As Borough President I would aim to have a grasp of the needs of our borough, and would demand that we involve community stakeholders and elected officials at the early stages of the budgeting process so we could advocate for the needs of our community. The process, as is, is highly problematic. The bulk of the budget is hammered out in back room deals between council leadership and the mayors team, we need to make sure that the budget which is a statement of values and priorities, reflects that of our borough. As Borough President I will fight to make sure that Staten Island gets what it rightfully deserves. The Land use process is troubled and needs a massive overhaul. As borough president, I will demand community involvement in the offset and not have development thrust onto them without their input. ULURP needs to have a massive overhaul and as borough president I will ensure that we are engaging the community about what is to come to their neighborhood before we start planning, rather than after. The borough president has power over land use, and has the ability to advocate for their borough in the budget process, but lacks the power that it needs to truly advocate for the borough. I would advocate that the borough president be given a larger voice over the budgetary process in their home borough, and be given a larger pool of discretionary spending that can be used to improve the lives of their constituents. As borough president I expect to have my finger on the pulse on what it is that the community needs and will be the primary advocate for Staten Islanders. The Borough President needs to be given the leeway and authority to have greater impact over the investment in his or her borough.
Please explain your vision for the present powers of the office you are seeking and how you intend to exercise them?
Staten Island borough president is the voice of the people of Staten Island and I’m going to use Staten Island’s leverage to demand adequate resources to the borough, which typically gets crumbs of what the city doles out.
Do you commit to working with Jim Owles during your campaign and while in office? What role can the club and the progressive LGBT community play in holding you accountable?
Yes. My door will always be open, especially on LGBTQ issues, which I care deeply about. I will lean on your club when tackling issues around the city, and like any group I expect you all to hold me accountable when I make a mistake. I hope for there to be a consistent dialogue between the club, and the large progressive LGBTQ community throughout my tenure as borough president.
If you receive the endorsement, do you agree to identify the club on all literature and electronic materials where you list endorsements?
Yes.
What additional information would you like Jim Owles to consider when we are making our endorsement decisions?
I was endorsed by Jim Owles in 2012.